By : Lloyd Mahachi
Sudan is facing a devastating water crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing civil war, which has left residents in the capital Khartoum struggling to access clean water. The city’s key water infrastructure, including a Nile River water treatment plant and several urban supply stations, has been severely damaged, leaving tens of thousands of households without water.
As a result, people are forced to fetch water from the Nile River using carts or purchase untreated water, which has become scarce and expensive. For example, two barrels of water cost 1,000 Sudanese pounds, equivalent to about $1.66, a significant burden considering the average annual income for a Sudanese is $2,379. Local resident Ahmed Musa shared, “We’ve been without water for 17 days. The situation is unbearable.”
The lack of access to clean water has exposed people to illnesses, including the waterborne bacterial disease cholera. The Sudanese Ministry of Health has reported 25,037 cases of cholera and 702 related deaths since the start of the conflict. The cholera outbreak is particularly alarming in Kassala, Gedaref, and Jazirah states, which are sheltering refugees and internally displaced persons.
The UNHCR has warned that overcrowded camps and gathering sites, scarce medical supplies, and limited access to healthcare are exacerbating the crisis. To combat the outbreak, the Sudanese Ministry of Health has launched a vaccination campaign targeting over 1.4 million people against cholera in eastern and northern parts of the country. UNICEF has also warned that 3.1 million people, including 500,000 children under five, are at risk of cholera in Sudan.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has displaced over 10 million people, with 2.1 million fleeing to neighboring countries. The humanitarian situation is extremely challenging, with limited access to critical medical supplies, food, and basic necessities. The situation in Sudan is heartbreaking, and immediate action is needed to address the water crisis, cholera outbreak, and humanitarian needs.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi